5 Ways To Stay Healthy When Traveling For Business

Staying healthy while traveling for business can be tricky. In between getting work done, appointments and meetings, it’s all too easy for your regular health and fitness routine to be disrupted, not to mention the temptation of eating out and going out for drinks with your colleagues more often than you usually would. But, prioritizing your health while you travel for business will not only ensure that you feel better and have enough energy to get everything done, you’ll also avoid gaining weight and find it easier to get back into your usual routine once you return home. We’ve put together some top tips to help you stay healthy on your next business trip.

#1. Choose Accommodation with Fitness Facilities:

Whether you plan to stay in a hotel or furnished apartments in San Francisco for your next business trip, opt for accommodation that has fitness facilities on site as this will make it easier for you to work out regularly. You can find several serviced apartments in San Francisco that have on-site gym and pool facilities, so whether you usually do cardio, weight-lifting, swimming or all three, you can keep it up while you travel at no extra cost. If you can’t find a hotel or apartment that has suitable fitness facilities, or your company have decided where you’re going to stay, it’s a good idea to check with the gym that you usually attend – national chain gyms often have locations in every state and it may not be difficult to find furnished apartments for rent in San Francisco with a branch of your gym nearby. Just temporarily upgrade your membership if needed so that you can use that branch as well. Check out Blueground for a wide range of furnished, serviced apartments to find one that’s suitable for both your work and fitness needs.

#2. Stay Hydrated:

It can be tempting to order a glass of wine or a beer on your flight, but while a little bit in moderation is fine, try to drink as much water as possible as well. Depending on where you are flying from, you will probably find water stations around the airport, so it’s worth taking a refillable bottle with you to fill up once you get past security. If not, you’ll find that most cafés and bars in airport terminals will be more than happy to provide you with water if you ask. Most conference centers and hotels will also have purified water on hand, so it’s worth taking your refillable bottle with you wherever you go. This is particularly important if you’re going to be traveling for business to a warm, sunny location!

#3. Eat Well:

Another benefit of staying in a serviced apartment over a hotel for business travelers is that it will come with a fully-equipped kitchen, giving you the option of preparing healthy, clean food in your accommodation rather than spending money on eating out, which isn’t always your healthiest option. If you’re staying in a hotel room, it’s a good idea to research the food options in your area so that you know where you can pick up the healthiest meals, too. And pack plenty of healthy snacks with you – find the nearest supermarket and get non-perishable healthy snacks such as nuts, seeds and dried fruits that you can grab in between meetings for some extra energy without the additional calories of a candy bar or bag of chips.

#4. Walk or Cycle:

Walking or cycling in between meetings can be cheaper than taking a taxi and much more pleasant than taking public transport. In addition, going on foot or renting a bicycle if you can, is a great way to explore the city or area that you are visiting if you have limited free time during your business trip. Hotels will often have bikes that guests can rent for a small fee, or you may be able to use a service such as MoBike if it is available in the area.

#5. Get Enough Sleep:

Last but not least, while it can be extremely tempting to stay up later than normal to get work done, or go out with your colleagues for drinks after a long day of meetings, don’t let it cut into your eight hours of sleep. Getting enough sleep every night is hugely important during your business trip to make sure that you are fully refreshed for the day ahead and have all the energy that you need, even if it means leaving your work until the next morning or saying goodbye to your colleagues early. Try and put your schedule together in such a way that you have enough time for both meetings and socializing without sacrificing your sleep; your body will thank you for it!

Do you have any further tips to add? How do you stay healthy when traveling for business? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

John Pearson is a serial entrepreneur and writer who is passionate about helping small businesses launch and grow. His work has been featured in Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, and Forbes.